The Women’s Business Network of Frederick is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inform, encourage, and support women in their quest to grow their businesses. The WBN promotes networking activities and business education through interactive workshops.
The purpose:
to inform, encourage and support women in business
The business:
networking activities & interactive workshops
The values:
knowledgeable business women.
We do not have to tell you that starting a new business is no less strenuous than running a marathon or competing against Lance Armstrong in the Tour de France. To reach the finish line, you’ll need stamina, discipline, and understanding how to work smart.
The WBN exists because we want you to have the tools to succeed, to make the learning curve shorter, and to give opportunities for sisterhood.
We are all working professionals and small business owners, volunteering our spare moments to share our success stories, to help you become more proactive, and to support your dreams.
Our structure is simple. We have a paid membership and a general emailing list. All are invited to attend our meetings; however, you will notice that member event rates are significantly more economical than non-member rates — attending less than half of the year’s events will realize a savings greater than the cost of annual membership.
What makes us unique is that we are not just any networking organization. Our meetings are about discovery and connection. We are not New Age. Quite the contrary. We bring concrete strategies and topics that will challenge how you think about doing business. To quote Dr. Phil, we like you to address the question, “How is this working for you?”
We have luncheon meetings in January, February, March, May, September and November.. Unless noted, they are held from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at Dutch’s Daughter Restaurant (581 Himes Road, Frederick). The April, June and October meetings are early morning breakfast meetings that jump start the day. Our popular meetings promote networking activities and business education through interactive workshops. We host a special event in July and October, and there are no meetings in August or December.
This is low-key networking at its best. The WBN linchpin is developing strong relationships mixed with some education and lots of humor. There is no pressure to supply leads. And certainly no sales pitches. It works because the WBN is about connections and relationships.
In 2000 six women met for lunch at (what was then) Tauraso’s Restaurant in Frederick. They bemoaned the fact there was no business organization in Frederick singularly focused on helping women grow their business. Today, the luncheon is no longer a table for six, but many tables that hold as many as 80 women entrepreneurs for lunch.
Formerly known as the Women’s Focus Group, the Women’s Business Network of Frederick (WBN) invests its energy in helping established businesses transition to the next level through an interactive workshop. A facilitator presents an overview of the basics of the topic, and then, through a well-planned exercise, encourages participants to share ideas and experiences. “Not only are we learning a new way to approach old topics, but we are networking as well.” notes one participant.
In 2004, the WBN formally adopted its name and selected a logo from the several logos designed by graphic designer Heather Bodnar. The original website, two years in development, launched in 2007, and helped members track events and connect with other members.
Only Shabri Moore from the original members remains in the WBN. Shabri recognizes that the reason the WBN has flourished without advertisements or much publicity is because there is a real need for women to congregate and share business knowledge.
